Lamp shade



Feb. 18, 1958 H. F. WILLARD LAMP SHADE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 20, 1956 fl/lil/l/IIIIIIIIIIII Henry F. Willard INVENTOR.

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LAMP SHADE Filed Feb. 20, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Henry F. Willard INVENTOR.

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United States Patent LAMP SHADE Henry F. Willard, Fitchburg, Mass.

Application February 20, 1956, Serial No. 566,620

2 Claims. (Cl. 40-131) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in lamp shades constructed for the display of pictures, colored panels, or other decorative elements at the side of the shade to enhance the esthetic appearance thereof.

An important object of the invention is to provide window opening in a shade of either opaque or translucent material and behind which the pictures or colored panels of translucent or transparent material are mounted which are illuminated by a lamp enclosed by the shade to attractively display the picture.

Another object is to mount the pictures in frames for easily and quickly interchangeably mounting the same in the windows and protecting the picture between a front transparent cover permanently attached to the inside of the shade over the windows and a rear translucent cover attached to the individual frames behind the picture.

A further object is to generally improve the appearance of household and other indoor lamp shades by means of decorative window panels mounted in the shade whereby a person may prominently display treasured pictures or which may be used by a merchant to attract attention to a window or store display.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on a line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a modified window arrangement for the shade;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on a line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a further modification of the window arrangement; and,

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on a line 66 of Figure 5.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates a lamp shade of circular shape and which may be constructed of any material suitable for that purpose and either opaque or translucent. A wire frame 6 at the top of the frame supports the same on the harp 7 of a lamp in the usual manner. The frame includes a central ring 4 rotatably supported on the harp for turning the shade thereon.

One or more window openings 10 are formed in the side of the shade and a cover 11 of translucent or transparent material is cemented or otherwise suitably secured to the inside of the shade behind the window.

An upper channel member 12 and a lower channel member 13 are secured in opposed relation to each other 3t the inside of the shade respectively above and below ice the Window opening 10 and a picture frame 14 with a picture 15 mounted therein is removably supported in said channel members behind the window and cover 11. The frame 14 is curved to conform to the curvature of the shade and the frame may be constructed of a suitable flexible self-supporting material to curve to the shape of the shade and fitted in the channels. A translucent rear cover 16 is cemented or otherwise suitably secured to the rear surface of frame 14 behind the picture therein.

The distance between the bases of the upper and lower channel members is greater than the height of the frame 14 and the downwardly projecting flange 17 of the upper channel is wider than the upwardly projecting flange 18 of the lower channel in-order that the frame may be slipped upwardly behind the upper flange to clear the lower fiange and dropped downwardly into the lower channel to support the frame in the channels.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings the shade is constructed with a pair of window openings at diametrically opposite sides of the shade, while the modified construction of Fig. 3 shows a single circumferential row of window openings 19 in the shade and behind which the upper and lower opposed channel members 20 and 21 are secured for supporting picture and picture frame 22 therein and the modified construction of Fig. 5 shows a double row of circumferential window openings 23 and 24 also provided with upper and lower channel members 25 and 26 to support picture and picture frame 27 therein.

The pictures may comprise panels of transparent or translucent material and preferably colored for the penetration of light from the lamp to display a picture or pictorial scene in silhouette to be viewed when the lamp is either on or off. I

The front and rear covers 11 and 16 protect the picture from damage while the shade is being handled.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A lamp shade having a window opening therein, a transparent cover at the inside of the shade behind the opening and fitting flush against the inner surface of the shade, a framed object fitting flush against said transparent cover, and upper and lower opposed channel members secured to the inside of the shade respectively above and below the opening and removably supporting the framed object aligned with the opening behind the cover.

2. A lamp shade having a window opening therein, a transparent cover fitting flush against the inside of the shade behind the opening, a frame having a picture of light penetrating material displayed therein, a translucent cover secured to the rear of the frame, and means constituting a structural part of the shade near the top and bottom thereof and on the inside of the shade removably supporting the picture in the window opening behind the first-named cover.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,301,586 Miller Apr. 22, 1919 1,521,177 Friis Dec. 30, 1924 2,177,204 Buzick et a1. Oct. 24, 1939 2,256,399 MacHarg Sept. 16, 1941 2,680,317 Lewis a.,.., June 8, 19,54, 

